Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-07-28
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
WOMEN WHO TOT.

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No man can fully appreciate the In
iustrial misery of women upon whom
ievolves the necessity of earning a sup
port for themselves or Others. As
work in all its forms is still considered
ierogatory to women, the necessity
they are under to work removes them
at once, more or less completely, from
the only class to which full social re-
spect, esteem and protection are ac-
corded. AT the same time they are re-
garded as interlopers in the world of
industry. 1t is somewhat discredita-
BILE for them to be there; they are I'M
welcome intruders in sphere properly
belonging to men. Hard work, mis-
cradle pay, monotonous life, and
more or less social stigma. is the gem
eral lot. They themselves have inn
bibed the popular ideas of what is de-
sirable for women, and regard it as the
great object of life to be supported by
some one else, to escape from the neces-
sity of work, and they do not fully re-
spect either themselves or their fellow
workers.
They have no leaders among them
selves. In work they are under the
direction Of, and dependent on, the
pleasure of men who do not respect
them as they do masculine workers, or
regard them rs entitled to the consid-
Grafton due to non-working women.
They are outside the pale both socially
and lndustrially, and are fair prey in
both capacities. They are separated
by an impossible gulf from the richer
women, who should naturally be their
leaders; they have no habit or power of
combination among themselves. Each
one, ignorant and inexperienced,
struggles along unaided, and has no
expectation of aid or support, unless it
come to her from some man. Every
working girl soon learns that she has a
higher immediate value as an article
of merchandise than as a worker, and
that the men who are insolent task
masters to her in that capacity have
fair words and money for her in
another direction.
For there is one profession for
women which is never full; one occu-
patton which has its agents, with brides
and temptations, always at hand. Nor
does virtue bring the same reward to
the poor that it does to the rich. II
does not save them from contumely,
from the sense of being socially at q
disadvantage. There may be discredit
in want of purity, but there is no spe-
cial merit in it. To win the approba-
ton and admiration of men is the
more or less avowed object of the edu.
cation of girls. The immense impor-
lance attached to dress and personal
appearance, to manner and etiquette,
teach them that social attraction is the
great object, and all that is inculcatet
in the way of womanly character
tends to unfit them for self-protection
Obedience, self-repression, tact, self
devotion, are drilled into them early
and endlessly. Moral courage, self
respect, independence, are indirectly
discouraged.
There is work to be done among
women parallel to that done by tn
White Cross Society among men. A
to these we preach the duties of purity
self-restraint and consideration TO
others, so we need to arouse women t,
the value of courage, self-respect ant
q sense of responsibility to their com
mon womanhood. They must recog
nize that work is as honorable t
women as to men; that it is socia
crime to allow any girl to reach ma
turity untitled for self-support, or un
provided with the training which woul,
make it possible for her to stand upol
her own feet when it is necessary
They should feel that the interests G
women are one and inseparable, fror
the very highest to the very lowest.
Combination and united action are
If possible, more essential to wome
than to men. The strength of womel
is purely that of moral force. So Ion
as brute strength is the controlling
force in society, women have no plac
nor chance in it. They are simpl
sacrificed to the physical needs of tn
race. But civilization means the pre-
dominance of moral over physica
force, and the more complete this a:
tendency, the better opportunity j
there for the development of wome
to their full perfection. But, to reac
this end, they must develop and exel
their own moral force. This must b
done, not only by individual but b
collective action. The highest mu:
realize that she is outraged by tn
degradation of the lowest, and that he
own status is rendered insecure by tn
industrial misery and isolation of tn
workers below her. Every woma
must learn that her position depend
upon the general idea which society Ell
tertains of the nature, the powers, tn
qualities of womanhood. and ths
every class and rank of women COZ
tributes its quota toward forming tn
general estimate which decides tn
standing of each individual. Ever
woman should feel that it is incumber
on her to do her part toward raisin
this estimate, not only by her persons
work and conduct but by the strengt
which comes through union, an
should lend her aid to organized e
forts for self-help and self-protectior